Clasp



Aug- 13, 1929- J. cARoLlN 1,724,561

CLASP Filed May 16, 1928 lNVENTOR /M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

i 1,724,551 Nr oFFIcE.

FRANK J. CAROLIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 KOHN COMPANY, 0F

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CLASP.

Application filed May 16,

This linvention relates to improvements .in clasps especially claspsforv bracelets, neckchains, watch-chains, pendants, sautoirs, and otherarticles of jewelry.

An object of the invention is to provide a clasp which is of novel butsimple construction and by which two parts, such as the ends of abracelet, can be securely held together but readily released when theparts are to be separated.

The nature of the invention is set forth in the following descriptionand the novel features are pointed out in the appended claims. Thedrawings show' a preferred embodiment of my invention, but I reserve therlght to make changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the partswhich come within the principle and scope of the invention and areembraced by the meanings of the broad terms in which the appended claimsare expressed.

On said drawings,

Figure l is a top plan of the clasp according to -my invention; unitingthe ends of a bracelet; T

Figure 2 is aj section on line 2 2, Figure 1, showing the clasp closed;

Figure 3 is a similar View of the clasp open; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 14, Figure 1.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

' The article of jewelry of which my improved clasp may be a part maycomprise a number of links 1 connected to one another by means of hinges2.A If the article of jewelry is a bracelet, as illustrated on thedrawing, the links 1 at the ends of the bracelet will be oined by myimproved clasp 1a so that the ends of the bracelet `can be releasablysecured together to enable the bracelet to be worn on the ownerswristand removed therefrom at will. The link or part 1 at one end of thebracelet will carry an aperture or integral loop 3 and the clasp 1awhich is connected by a similar hinge 2 with the cooperating part orlink 1 at the other end of the bracelet comprise a body with a hook 4attached to it by a hinge 5. Preferably the clasp and the links are allmade of metal as will be understood.

The loop 3 aforesaid is shown in Figure 1 as placed at the right or freeend of the link 1 carrying it. The hook 4 which engages this loop 3 willbe secured adjacent the middle of the body of the clasp 12L carry- 1928.seria No..27s,113.

ing this hook by the hinge 5 and the hook and the hinge will preferablybe on the bottom face of this body of the clasp so as to be partlyhidden when the bracelet is put on the wrist of the wearer'. One part ofthe hook, shown at 6, is doubled over to form aloop or bill and has itsextremity 7 bent awayvfrom the remainder of the hook to 'a slight extentso that this end can be slipped through said loop 3; the hook beingresilient to allow the part 6 to yield when the con'- nection of thehook with the loop is made. Normally, however, this extremity pressesagainst the remaining or opposite part of the hook so as to keep theclasp from becoming unfastened of itself.

,The end of the body of clasp'la, remote from the extremity which isconnected to the adjacent link,V has a rrecess (8) flanked by a pair offingers (9) which haveinside projections 10 at their extremities'. Thesegers are resilient and are spaced apart about the same distance as thewidth of the portion 6 of the hook 4. To make the hook 4 engage theaforesaid loop 3, the body of the clasp 1a mounting this hook will beswung so as to be spaced somewhat from the part 6v of the hookso thatthe extremity 7 of the j hook can be slipped through the body of theclasp 1a carrying the'hook is folded down until the lingers 9 make con#tact with the sides ofthe part 6. A slight pressure of the wearerslingers is enough to make the parts 9 snap past the opposite edges ofthe portion 6 so that the fingers 9 will pass underneath the part 6, andthusthe end of the body of lthe clasp 1a having'the recess 8 grips-thepart 6 of the hook'4 and holds it in secure engagement. The hook isthusin vpart covered beneath thefbody ofl the clasp 1a to which it isattached by the hinge 5; but the clasp can be released by swinging up`the body carrying the hook engaging the hook from said loop 3.

this loop. Then The body of the-clasp 1a bearing the hook 100 4 may bemade up of two sections, atop 11 and a bottom 12. The top 11 may beconvex and the bOttOm 12 may b *eflat and these two i sections maybesecured in any suitable manner. Both sections may be shaped at one end105 to form the notch 8 while the lingers 9 having theinwardly-extending projections 10 may be carried by the bottom 12. Thesides of the portion 6 may have notches 13 in such position that theprojections 10 can slip past 110 4 and then disthe inner ends of thesenotches when the body of the clasp is folded down upon the hook as shownin Figure 2. The hinge may comprise a pair of perforated lugs on thebottom 12 vand the hook may have a bearing with a bore therethrough tobe between these lugs, the bearino` and the lugs being connected by anorcinary pin which forms the pivot of the hinge. As shown in Figure 1,the bottom 12 may have the shape indicated in dotted lines; being cutout somewhat at the end of the link remote from the recessed wall toprovide a resilient tonguellt. This tongue lies over the hinged end ofthe hook, and the perforated lugs above mentioned will be at theopposite sides of the bottom of the clasp flanking this tongue 14. Thehinge end of the hook will carry a lateral projection 15 rounded on oneside at the end. lVhen the body of the clasp 1a carrying the hook isfolded down upon the hook as indicated in Figures 1 and 2,` the end ofthis projection will press against the resilient tongue 14:, so that thehook tends to be held in the position shown in Figure 2; and when thebody of the clasp 1a is raised, as in Figure 3, the straight side ofthis projection will press against the resilient tongue 14: and the hookthen tends to be held in a position extending at right angles to thebottom of the body of the clasp.

The links 1 may be shaped like the clasp 1u with convex tops but neednot have the bottom sections 12. The hinges joining the links togetherand to one end of the clasp may simply be in the form of Vrings made ofa strip of metal bent to bring the ends together and flattened somewhatand passing through suitably shaped openings like the above mentionedaperture 3, in the adj acent ends of 'the links.

'The invention is thus very simple in construction but works veryeiiiciently to hold two parts together. At the same time it is easy tomanipulate but-on account of the fact that the hook is attached to theunder side at-one of the links, most of the *hook is entirely hiddenfrom-view and doesnot interfere with the ornamental appearance of thearticle carrying it.

1. A clasp comprising a body composed of a main portion and a resilientportion eX- tending longitudinally of the main portion, said mainportion having a notch at one end thereof, said resilient portion formedwith ingers at the end thereof corresponding with the notched end of themain portion, and a member attached by a hinge to said body and providedwith a part adapted to enter said notch and to be gripped by saidfingers.

2. A clasp having a body, a hook hinged to the lower facev of the body,the latter being adapted to be folded down upon said hook, and havingfingers at one end to grip the. hook near the free end of the hook.

` 3. A clasp having a body, a hook hinged to the lower face of the body,the hook having a projection to engage the lower face of the body, thelatter having a portion of its lower face resilient so that saidprojection ytends to hold the hook in position close to the lower faceof said body or projecting at right angles therefrom, the body having arecess at one end with lingers having inward-extending projections atthe sides of said recess, the opposite sides of the hook having notchesso that when the body and the hook are folded together said projectionsslip past said notches, thus holding said body and said hook in yieldingengagement.

4:. A clasp comprising a `body having a flat lowerl face and a convexupper face, a hook hinged to the lower face of thev body, the hookhaving a projection to engage said lower face, the latter having aportion re- 1 silient so that said projection tends to hold the hook inposition close to said lower face or projecting at right anglestherefrom, the body having a recess atfone end with fingers havinginwardly-extending projections at both sides of the recess, the hookhaving a portion doubled over and presented to the lower face of thebody, the sides of said portion having notches so that `when they bodyand hook are folded together said projections slip past said notches,thus holding said body and said hook in yielding engagement. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention, `I have signedmy name hereto.

FRANK J. CAROLIN. f

